Combined shoulder and body brace.



'J. 11. OREAR. COMBINED SHOULDER AND BODY BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1908. 91 1,53%},

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

JOHN D. OREAR, or MEXIGQ,]l/I1SSOURI.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909 ApplicationLfiled August", 1908. Serial-No. 448,894..

. and useful" Improvements in a Combined Shoulder and 'Body Brace, 'ofwhich the-fob lowing is a specification, containing a full,

. clear, and exact. description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a combined shoulder and body brace, the object of my inven-f tion being to construct a simple bracewhich ispositioned upon the back and over the.

shoulders ofthe wearer, and which WhEIl IlIl use tends to constantly 'throwthe shoulders back, and at the same timestrengthens and braces the back between the waist and shoul- 1 der .blades,'and which brace is held in position by a belt passing-around the waist of the wearer.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brace of myimproved construction, the same being shown in position for use; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the brace in the position it assumes before being placed on the body of the wearer.

Referring by numerals to the accompany-v ing drawings: 1 designates the back brace, which is constructed of a straight piece of thin resilient material, such as steel, and which is preferably covered with a suitable fabric, and fixed in any suitable manner to the upper end of this back brace are straps 2, which when the device is in use pass over and in front of the'shoulders of the wearer,

and said straps being provided with suitable pads 3, which when the device is in use occupy positions under the arms of the wearer.

The free ends ofthe-straps 2 are provided with detachable loops l, to which are connected the ends ofa cord or cable 5, the body portion of which passes through a ring 6, attached to the rear side and upper portion of the brace 1. and the central portion f of a belt 8, which when the device is in use,

of said cord or cable passing through the loop 7, which is attached to the rear port1on passes around the waist of the wearer. i

9 designates a plate, which is hmged to the rear side 'and lower portion of the brace 1, and the lower end of said plate is fixed in any'suitable manner-to the belt 8', adjacent the point where the loop 7 is attached.-

When a brace of my improved construe-- tion is positioned foruse, the brace 1 is ap-- pliedtothe-back and occupies a verticalposition between the waist-line and shoulder blades of the wearer, and the arms are now passed-through the shoulder straps 2, during-which action the plate 9 swings upward into the position shown in Fig. 2, which action loosens thecord or cable 5 to such a degreeas that-the arms can be readily passed under the straps 2*, and said plate 9 is now swung downward against the lower portion of the brace 1,whi'ch action draws the upper ends of the cord or cable 5 downward, tightening the's'traps 2-around theshoulders. The ends I able manner, and thus the device is held in proper position upon the wearer with the brace 1 occupying a central position against the back, and with. the straps 2 bracing the shoulders and exerting a continuous rearward pull thereon, owing to the connection between the ends of saidv strap and the belt 8.

' The straps 2 can be made of flexible or elastic material, and as the cord or cable 5 readily draws through the ring 6 and loop 7 saidbraces will readily give and readily follow the movements of the wearer of the brace, and, if desired, suitable buckles. may be. arranged between said straps and the loops 4, which buckles provide means whereby the shoulder straps are adjusted in length.

A device of my improved construction is simple, can be conveniently worn, and provides an effective brace for the back and shoulders of the wearer.

I claim:

1. A braceof the class described, comprising a resilient member adapted to occupy a verticalposition on theback of the wearer,

Jadjustable shoulder straps connected to the upper end of the resilient member, a ring secured to the resilient member, a belt, a

'flexible member connected to the belt and to.

the ends of the shoulder straps, and which flexible member passes through the ring, and a rigid member connecting the resilient member and the belt.

2. A brace of the class described, compris-- ing a resilient member adapted to occupy a position on the back of the wearer, shoulder straps connected tothe upper end of the re silient member, a belt, flexible connections between said belt and the ends of the shoul between said belt and the ends of the shoal der straps, and a plate hinged to the resilient member and connected to the rear portion of the belt.

. 4:. A brace of the class described, comprising a resilient member adapted to occupy a position on the back of the wearer, shoulder straps connected to the upper end of the re silient member, a belt, flexible connections between said belt and the ends of the shoulder straps, a ring carried by the resilient member through which the flexible connection passes, and a plate hinged to the resilient member and connected to the rear portion of the belt.

emcee 5. The herein described brace, comprising a resllient member, a pair of shoulder straps attached thereto, a ring secured to the upper portion of the resilient member, a belt, a

loop secured thereto, a flexible connection passing through said loop and through the ring onthe resilient member, the ends of which flexible connection are detachably connected to the ends of the shoulder straps,

and a plate hinged to the resilient member and connected to the belt.

6. A device of the class described-,'comprising a brace member adapted to occupy a vertical position on the back of the wearer,

. shoulder straps connected to the upper end of said brace member, a belt, a lever hinged to the brace member and connected to the belt, and flexible connections between said belt and the ends of the shoulder straps.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, JOHN D. OREAR. Witnesses:

EDWARD E.,LONGAN, M. P. SMITH. 

